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michaela User

@michaelauser

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Lead hardgoods and product designer blending AI-assisted visualization with global innovation and brand storytelling.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead product and hardgoods design that pairs creative storytelling with measurable impact—using AI-assisted visualization, cross-functional collaboration, and global vendor partnership to bring next-season concepts to market.

I’m a Lead Global Hardgoods Designer focused on performance and lifestyle innovation—leading end-to-end development across goggles, bags, footwear, eyewear, and fins. At Speedo (Pentlands Brand), I help shape future-facing concepts and long-range seasonal directions for 2026–2028 by balancing performance, brand expression, cost, and manufacturability.

I own critical workflows like tech packs, BOMs, CMF, and 2D/3D assets, and I coordinate with product, development, merchandising, softgoods, and marketing teams. I also partner directly with vendor partners across Asia, Europe, and North America, including overseas factory and development travel.

I’m especially proud of how I’ve advanced visualization and innovation capabilities—delivering high-impact renders, sell-in decks, and launch presentations with 6 figure annual impact. I introduced AI-assisted design tools to reduce ideation timelines by ~50%, and I helped shape the Aqualab for LA28 by collaborating closely with the Innovation and Hardgoods team and partnering with the Creative Director on storytelling.

Before joining Speedo, I led exhibition preparation and installation as a Lead Designer & Preparator at Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum, ensuring museum-quality art handling, condition reporting, and visitor-focused spatial communication. I’ve also brought a design-growth mindset through Kaizntree—where I led brand and growth strategy, interviewed 150+ small business owners, reduced iteration cycles by ~77%, and supported investor-ready pitch narratives through accelerator and funding milestones.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Lead Global Hardgoods Designer

Current

Speedo (Pentlands Brand)

Dec 2024 - Present (1 year 7 months)

Led the global design and development of performance and lifestyle hardgoods across goggles, bags, footwear, eyewear, and fins, partnering with Pentland’s Innovation team on 2026–2028 concepts and seasonal direction. Owned end-to-end development workflows (tech packs, BOMs, CMF, and 2D/3D assets) and delivered high-impact visualization and launch presentations with six-figure annual impact.

Hard Goods Tech Packs Visualization AI assisted Design Vendor Management Cross functional Leadership

Lead Designer & Preparator

Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum

Sep 2022 - Apr 2024 (1 year 7 months)

Conducted exhibition preparation and installation for rotating contemporary shows, ensuring safe, museum-quality art handling, installation/deinstallation, transport, and condition reporting. Designed and maintained exhibition environments aligned with curatorial intent and served as a liaison across curatorial, preparatory, and visitor services teams while mentoring under senior preparators.

Art handling Exhibition Preparation Installation Art Handling Condition Reporting Exhibition Design Visitor Experience Support Mentoring

Lead Designer & Growth

Kaizntree

Aug 2023 - Mar 2024 (7 months)

Led design, brand, and growth strategy for a bootstrapped SaaS startup, shaping customer acquisition and storytelling that led to Y-Combinator interview opportunities, NYU Summer Accelerator funding, and acceptance/funding from 500 Global. Owned user research and outreach by interviewing 150+ small business owners to shape product-market fit and go-to-market strategy, reducing iteration cycles by

Growth Marketing Strategy Storytelling Customer Acquisition User Research Customer Outreach Product Market Fit Go To Market Strategy Investor Pitch Support Narrative Development Iteration Optimization

NYU Entrepreneurship Apprenticeship

New York University Start-Up Summer Launch Pad

Jun 2023 - Aug 2023 (2 months)

Engaged in strategic planning, team coordination, and resource management in a fast-paced entrepreneurship environment. Collaborated with a cohort to concept and execute actionable plans and won Audience Choice at the 10th Annual New York University/Yale University Pitch-Off.

Strategic Planning Team Coordination Resource Management entrepreneurship Action Planning Pitch

Internship for Design & Entrepreneurship

Kaizntree

May 2023 - Aug 2023 (3 months)

Supported early-stage customer discovery to help define MVP direction, brand positioning, and outreach priorities. Assisted with design, research, and operations workflows, contributing to pitch materials and brand assets and accelerating iteration cycles by ~25% during the accelerator period.

Customer Discovery Positioning Outreach Prioritization Design Support Research Workflows Pitch Materials

Jr. Graphic & Marketing Designer

KJazz Radio Station 88.1 FM

Jan 2022 - Aug 2023 (1 year 7 months)

Created visual content for the organization’s web page, including promotional materials, color direction, event posters, and digital assets to maintain consistent brand identity across platforms. Executed marketing campaign graphics to support audience engagement through social media, email marketing, and event promotion.

Graphic Design Web Visual Content Promotional Materials Digital Asset Creation Brand Identity Marketing Campaign Design Social Media Marketing Email Marketing Event Promotion

Industrial Design Apprenticeship

Mt. San Antonio College

Aug 2018 - Jun 2020 (1 year 10 months)

Completed an industrial design apprenticeship program and received an industrial design certification.

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

California State University, Long Beach

Bachelor of Arts, Design

Grade: Summa Cum Laude

Activities and societies: Presidential's Honor List (4x).

Earned a Bachelor of Arts in Design from California State University, Long Beach. Recognized with a Presidential's Honor List (4x) and graduated Summa Cum Laude.